Comments on: Living legendhttp://www.metafilter.com/81931/Living-legend/
Comments on MetaFilter post Living legendMon, 25 May 2009 18:32:45 -0800Mon, 25 May 2009 18:32:45 -0800en-ushttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss60Living legendhttp://www.metafilter.com/81931/Living-legend
Let's slide over to KCRW for an <a href="http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/mb090525sly_stone">interview with Sly Stone</a>, who, happily, is continuing his gradual <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/05/25/sly.stone.returns/index.html">reemergence</a> into the public eye. Then howsabout we rewind to 1974, just a few months after the incredible <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresh_(Sly_and_the_Family_Stone_album)">Fresh</a> was released, for another (albeit odd and somewhat awkward) interview on the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfCFT9aN5L4">Mike</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmoUuo_bQhQ">Douglas</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm2zG7_Ou0U">Show</a>. And yeah, Sly Stone, we definitely <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3t9htxbIAc">want you to stay</a>. <br /><br />Interspersed throughout the KCRW interview you'll hear musical selections "Hot Fun in the Summertime", a very young and very soulful Sylvester Stewart, along with his family gospel group The Stewart Four, performing "Walking in Jesus' Name" (at 7:04), "Everyday People", "Family Affair", the hilarious "Space Cowboy" (Sly YODELS!), the utterly charming "Running Away", winner of the most-unlikely-cover-ever award "Que Sera Sera", and "If You Want Me To Stay". The interview closes with Sly's brilliantly funky syncopated masterpiece "In Time". What a treat.
The CNN article mentioned Stone's daughter, Novena, and her project, Babystone. Not a whole lot out there on the nets yet, but here's a <a href="http://cdbaby.com/cd/babystone">CD Baby page for her release</a>, where you can hear some audio snippets, and a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nHnlDsvcqs">live clip on YouTube</a>. Hmm...post:www.metafilter.com,2009:site.81931Mon, 25 May 2009 18:27:59 -0800flapjax at midniteSlyStoneSlyandthefamilystoneStewartSylvesterStewartinterviewKCRWBy: flapjax at midnitehttp://www.metafilter.com/81931/Living-legend#2577751
Sly Stone, <a href="http://www.metafilter.com/62607/Back-on-the-Right-Track-maybe">previously</a> and <a href="http://www.metafilter.com/48622/Be-Mice-Elf-Again">previouslier</a>.comment:www.metafilter.com,2009:site.81931-2577751Mon, 25 May 2009 18:32:45 -0800flapjax at midniteBy: the alohahttp://www.metafilter.com/81931/Living-legend#2577757
i love this small talk nowcomment:www.metafilter.com,2009:site.81931-2577757Mon, 25 May 2009 18:45:41 -0800the alohaBy: genhttp://www.metafilter.com/81931/Living-legend#2577767
thank you flapjax! I love KCRW and I love Sly &amp; The Family.comment:www.metafilter.com,2009:site.81931-2577767Mon, 25 May 2009 19:01:49 -0800genBy: Fazehttp://www.metafilter.com/81931/Living-legend#2577771
His greatest achievement may very well have been producing Bobby Freeman's still- powerful, driving 1964 single, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004TS8A/metafilter-20/ref=nosim/">"C'mon and Swim."</a> The piece is an exquisitely crafted exercise in tension and release, buildup and explosion. The power and authority of the horn parts have never been equalled, with a booming organ pumping away underneath it. All in a cheesy dance song. But then, what was "Dance to the Music"? Another simple dance song that had more creativity per square inch than almost any other single released that year of "Sgt. Pepper." The Temptations ripped it off wholesale, and extended their chart career by an extra three singles or so.comment:www.metafilter.com,2009:site.81931-2577771Mon, 25 May 2009 19:08:03 -0800FazeBy: elmer bensonhttp://www.metafilter.com/81931/Living-legend#2577773
Gah! That version of "If You Want Me To Stay" from the Mike Douglas Show is wicked! That walking-up piano line from the end of the phrase is so wicked. That didn't make the final mix on Fresh, did it?
One of the things I've noticed about Sly's music is that it's simultaneously sweet and funky. Prince does this sometimes, too, but rarely in the same song like Sly does.
I like listening to Sly because my head bobs from the funk, buy my heart breaks from the sweetness. Thanks for sharing this, Flapjax!comment:www.metafilter.com,2009:site.81931-2577773Mon, 25 May 2009 19:08:03 -0800elmer bensonBy: flapjax at midnitehttp://www.metafilter.com/81931/Living-legend#2577779
<i> That walking-up piano line from the end of the phrase is so wicked. That didn't make the final mix on Fresh, did it?</i>
Yeah, I noticed that straightaway too, elmer, and no, it's not there on the original release. And his extemporaneous vocalizing is sweet too, eh?
<i>I like listening to Sly because my head bobs from the funk, buy my heart breaks from the sweetness.</i>
Exactly! It's a very agreeable, and, as you say, very rare combination.comment:www.metafilter.com,2009:site.81931-2577779Mon, 25 May 2009 19:16:24 -0800flapjax at midniteBy: Jodehttp://www.metafilter.com/81931/Living-legend#2577807
Sly is full of contradiction. He's polished and sloppy, sophisticated and naive, funky and corny, disciplined and stoned-out -- all at once. He's always been an enigma, and the interview, great as it is, sheds little light.comment:www.metafilter.com,2009:site.81931-2577807Mon, 25 May 2009 19:41:06 -0800JodeBy: emelenjrhttp://www.metafilter.com/81931/Living-legend#2577817
I was just coming in here to say the same thing about the walk up on the piano.comment:www.metafilter.com,2009:site.81931-2577817Mon, 25 May 2009 19:47:18 -0800emelenjrBy: Sailormomhttp://www.metafilter.com/81931/Living-legend#2577842
Thank You Falettinme read this post!comment:www.metafilter.com,2009:site.81931-2577842Mon, 25 May 2009 20:03:08 -0800SailormomBy: Flex1970http://www.metafilter.com/81931/Living-legend#2577890
<em>"I like listening to Sly because my head bobs from the funk, buy my heart breaks from the sweetness."</em>
So true. Just listen to There's a Riot Goin' On.comment:www.metafilter.com,2009:site.81931-2577890Mon, 25 May 2009 20:29:16 -0800Flex1970By: jeremiashttp://www.metafilter.com/81931/Living-legend#2577905
Sly and the Family Stone, on of my favorite artists, great post. He looked a lot more "together" than I would have imagined him in 1974, really nice to see. A little intrigued by the characterization of "Space Cowboy" and "Running Away" as hilarious and/or charming though. That album has such a thick patina of paranoia and drugs layered upon it, some deep troubles in there. (Not that there's anything wrong with that)comment:www.metafilter.com,2009:site.81931-2577905Mon, 25 May 2009 20:40:04 -0800jeremiasBy: PeterMcDermotthttp://www.metafilter.com/81931/Living-legend#2577930
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je5aTUS8DhU&feature=related">Thank you</a>comment:www.metafilter.com,2009:site.81931-2577930Mon, 25 May 2009 21:05:17 -0800PeterMcDermottBy: raysmjhttp://www.metafilter.com/81931/Living-legend#2577935
Space<strong>d</strong> Cowboy. I think the explanation for that one is cocaine. "Running Away" is definitely brilliant, though.comment:www.metafilter.com,2009:site.81931-2577935Mon, 25 May 2009 21:12:03 -0800raysmjBy: obhttp://www.metafilter.com/81931/Living-legend#2578133
Thank you for this post. I don't have time to check out all the links, but I will be doing so over the next few days. Sly cuts an intriguing figure, part visionary (just check out the Motown sound pre- and post- Sly) and part enigmatic recluse with a huge dash of not really giving a shit. 'Fresh' is my favourite album, but I was obsessed enough with 'There's a Riot Goin' On' to have dedicated a whole chapter of a doctoral dissertation to it. I still feel there's a lot more to say. Anyway, all hail Sly.comment:www.metafilter.com,2009:site.81931-2578133Tue, 26 May 2009 01:22:19 -0800obBy: obhttp://www.metafilter.com/81931/Living-legend#2578134
<em>Spaced Cowboy. I think the explanation for that one is cocaine.</em>
And PCP, don't forget the PCP...comment:www.metafilter.com,2009:site.81931-2578134Tue, 26 May 2009 01:23:01 -0800obBy: Wolofhttp://www.metafilter.com/81931/Living-legend#2578139
Yeah, <i>Fresh</i> was the last great Sly album, although bits of <i>Small Talk</i> are also the shit — "Loose Booty" springs to mind.
Come back strong, man, we need you!comment:www.metafilter.com,2009:site.81931-2578139Tue, 26 May 2009 01:39:03 -0800WolofBy: Goofyyhttp://www.metafilter.com/81931/Living-legend#2578173
PCP=no turn unstoned. Not pretty, not fun. Just fugged kup. Once, and only once.comment:www.metafilter.com,2009:site.81931-2578173Tue, 26 May 2009 03:15:48 -0800GoofyyBy: biscottihttp://www.metafilter.com/81931/Living-legend#2578415
Thanks for this. I love Sly (the cover of "Que Sera Sera" is one of my all-time favourites, used slyly under the end credits of "Heathers"). elmer benson is bang-on about what's so cool about Sly. And Faze is as well, about the tension and release, although I think that's what makes all Sly's music so great, "Thank You (For Letting Me Be Myself)" is all about that tense, tight groove let slip into full on funk at just the right moments and then pulled back in again, it wouldn't be half as awesome if it didn't have that controlled tension to it.comment:www.metafilter.com,2009:site.81931-2578415Tue, 26 May 2009 08:41:03 -0800biscottiBy: Dr.Pillhttp://www.metafilter.com/81931/Living-legend#2578420
Bobby Freeman : C'mon and SWIM Spotify link : http://open.spotify.com/track/4QVLwVgNxqTp73Gfg6pS56comment:www.metafilter.com,2009:site.81931-2578420Tue, 26 May 2009 08:43:05 -0800Dr.Pill